Historic Darwin-Uluru direct Qantas flights begin

IT’S a red letter day for Qantas and Darwin with the first direct flight from the Territory capital to Uluru taking off today

IT IS a red-letter day for Qantas and Darwin, with the first direct flight from the Territory capital to Uluru taking off today.

IT IS a red-letter day for Qantas and Darwin, with the first direct flight from the Territory capital to Uluru taking off today.

Flight QF757 departs Darwin at 12.20pm and is due to land at Ayers Rock airport at 2.35pm.

Fares on the Boeing 737-800 service ranged from $399 for the Red e-Deal special to $1200 business class.

The twice-weekly Qantas flight offers a full domestic service, between Uluru and Darwin/Adelaide.

The service operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays, giving visitors an option of a three or four-night stay.

Tourism Minister Lauren Moss said the new Qantas service would also help build demand for international air services into Darwin, supporting existing carriers such as Jetstar Asia, Silk Air and Donghai Airlines, as well as making Darwin more attractive as a gateway for potential new international carriers.

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The new Qantas Darwin/Uluru/Adelaide service comes on the back of a new direct service from China’s Donghai Airlines, increased Jetstar Asia and SilkAir services between Singapore and Darwin and a new Virgin Australia service between Darwin and Bali that kicks off in a week.

“Direct flights between Darwin and Uluru will be an absolute game changer for Top End tourism, positioning Darwin as a major gateway to Australia,” Ms Moss said.

“It will mean more international visitors stopping in Darwin on their way to the Rock, providing an economic boost to tourism operators, accommodation providers and retail businesses.”

NT Airports chief executive officer Ian Kew said the Qantas direct flights from Darwin to Uluru would give both locals and international tourists extra options when planning their visit to the Red Centre.

“For the many Territorians, who have never visited Uluru, this is a great chance for them to tick it off their bucket list”, Ian Kew said.

“It’s a huge opportunity for our tourism industry to attract more interstate and international visitors to the Top End as well as the Red Centre. They can fly into Darwin, stay a few days in the Top End and fly direct to Uluru for an ultimate Territory adventure.”

Mr Kew expects the new service will be attractive to time-poor Asian and European travellers.

“Travelling to Uluru via Darwin improves options, cutting their travel time as much as up to five hours,” he said.

In a collaboration with inbound tourism wholesalers, Darwin International Airport, Qantas and Jetstar Asia are working on itineraries through Darwin and on to Uluru and Alice Springs that are promoted in key Asian markets.